Chain ladder construction



May 2, 1944. H. P. HOPP EI'AL CHAIN LADDER CQNSTRUCIIN *Filed May 14, 1943 INVENTORS Z6 mm K HAROLD A? HOPP EDWARD KU/VZELMAM RIG. 2. '4

I l I I A "a NI TNESS.

Patented May 2, 1944 CHAIN LADDER CONSTRUCTION Harold P. Hopp, Englewood, N. J., and Edward Kunzelman, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assignors to H. K. Metal Craft Manufacturing (30., Ne

York, N. Y.

Application May 14, 1943, Serial No. 486,948

11 Claims.

The present invention pertains to improvements in flexible ladders and more particularly it pertains to ladders in which the side stiles are of chain and in which rigid steps are connected at their ends to the side stiles.

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel construction for the attachment of the steps to the stiles andone which is equally adaptable either to single ladders or to so-called multiple ladders of the type illustrated in our co-pending application, Serial No. 469,792, filed December 22, 1942.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel construction which is simple and easily assembled and which is possessed of extreme durability by reason of the fact that the ends of the steps are protected against damage by impacts imparted thereto. This feature is of particular importance in cases where the steps are formed of wood which material is often preferred in this type of ladder.

Another feature of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby the actual securing means is reduced to a minimum, there being but a single means passing through the step for securing the several parts in their operative positions.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the novel arrangements and constructions of parts whereby the actual securing means is relieved from all strains resulting from weights or loads imposed upon the ladder when in use.

Other features and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood and reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing and the following specification wherein the invention is illustrated and described.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating a portion of a chain ladder embodying a connection between they step and the stile constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is adetail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, V v

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the invention may be applied to ladders of the so-called multiple type illustrated in our co-pending application, above mentioned.

Referring tothe drawing, the side stiles of the ladder are designated I 0, the steps being designated I I.

The side stiles are formed from chain of a conventional type, the links I2 of which have two straight portions or legs I3 connected at one end of the link by a curved end portion I4. The I free ends of the leg portions I3 are brought together as at I5, looped as at I6 and then bent upon themselves as at I I to close the opposite end of the link.

' The steps II are of rectangular cross sectional form, preferably square and they are preferably formed from wood.

' The top and bottom end edge of each step is beveled as indicated at 2ii and each step is provided in its end face with a groove 2I which extends throughout the verti-cal dimension of the end face of the step, considering the step in its normal operative position.

Carried by the end of the step II, there is a plate'22 which has a stile link receiving channel 23 which, as more clearly illustrated in Figure 2, is received in the groove 2i in the end of the step I I.

This plate 22,which will be hereinafter referred to as the wear plate, serves to protect the end of the step against impacts imparted thereto in use and to provide a bearing for the step in its pivotal movement relative to the'stile link to which it is attached.

A clip is employed to retain the leg of the stile link in the channel 23 of the Wear plate and this clip, which is designated 24 in the drawing, will be hereinafter referred to as the stile link engaging clip.

The stile link engaging clip comprises a main body 25 which engages the outer face of the wear plate 2| and the leg I3 of the stile link to retain the same in the channel 23 of the wear plate.

. Right angular extensions 2-6 are integral with the body 25 and extend around the end of the step into engagement with the side faces thereof as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, for preventing lateral movement of the stile link engaging clip relative to the step'considering the step tion.

A second clip is employed to retain the stile link engaging clip, the stile link and the wear plate in their operative positions and to form the means for attaching the step to the stile.

In the drawing, this second clip is designated 30. width substantially equal to the width of the body portion 25 of the stile engaging clip 24 and. projecting from each of its side edges, there is an angular extension 32. A wing extension 33 projects from the outer edge of each of the angular extensions 32, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent.

The main body portion 3| and the angular ex-' tensions 32 are slottedas at 35, the ends of the slot 35 terminating at the juncture of each of in its normal operative posi-' It comprises a main body portion 3|, of a' When the clip is in its operative position, the slot 35 extends vertically of the end face of the ladder step, again considering the step in its normal operative position, with one of the wing extensions eng-aging the top face of the step and the other wing extension in engagement with the bottom or under face of the step, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

Having described the several parts, the manner in which they are assembled and the attachment of the end of a step to one of the legs of a stile link will now be described.

The first step in assembly consists in placing one leg of the stile link, to which the step is to be attached, in position in the slot 35 of the second clip 30 with the leg of the stile link extending longitudinally of the slot.

The stile link is next moved until it engages the ends of the slot at th points'at which the angular portions 32 merge with their respective wing extensions 33.

With the second clip and the leg of the stile link in the positions just described, the stil link engaging clip 24 is inserted between the leg of the stile link and the inner face of the main body portion of the second clip 30 with its right angular extensions 26'ext'endin'g in the same direction as do the wing extensions 33 of the second clip 30.

In this position of the parts, the stile link engaging clip serves to retain the leg of the stile link in the slot 35 of the second clip 30.

The wear plate is next positioned upon the end face of the step with its channel 23 in position in the groove 2| therein and the end of the step is inserted between the wing extensions 33 of the second clip and moved inwardly thereof until its beveled faces 20 engage their respective angular extensions 26 of the stile link engagingelip 24 in which position, the leg of thestile link will lie within the channel 23 of th wear plate.

Considering the step in its normal operative position, the right angular extensions 26 of the stile link engaging clip snugly engage the opposite side faces of the step with th wing extensions33 of the second clip 30 snugly engaging the top and bottom faces of the step as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing.

A single fastening means is employed for securing th step to the stile and it is herein illustrated as a rivet 40 which passes through the wing extensions 33 of the second clip 30 and the step to secure the second clip 30 to the step.

With the second clip 30 secured to the step in the aforementioned manner, the several parts will be retained in their assembled positions and the step securely attached to the stile.

It is to be noted that the rivet 40 which as before stated, constitutes the only fastening means, passes vertically through the step in the operative position.

This feature is important sinc in use, loads imposed upon the step are not transmitted to the rivet 40, such loads being transmitted directly to the'stile link through the second clip 30.

It is to be understood that the proportions of the several parts are such that, except for the attachment of the second clip to the step, there ispermitt-ed a limited amount of play between the parts which will always be sufiicient to permit of the necessary pivotal movement of the step relative to the stile and to provide the desired flexibility in the completed ladder.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the invention is capable of use in constructing a single ladder comprising but two stiles and steps and that it is equally adaptable to the construction of multiple ladders such as illustrated in our aforementioned co-pending application.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a chain ladder, means for fastening a ladder step to one of the links of the ladder stile, said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to'be attached and embracing the step at opposite sides thereof, a second clip embracing the first mentioned clip and the step at points above and below the sides thereof, and means for securing the second mentioned clip to the step.

2. In a chain ladder, means for fastening a ladder step to one of the links of the ladder stile, said means including "a stile link engaging clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to be attached, end extensions on said clip for engagement with the step at opposite sides thereof, a second clip embracing the first mentioned clip, said second mentioned clip being slotted to receive a portion of saidlink of the stile, end extensions on said second mentioned clip for engagement with the step at points above and below the sides thereof, and means passing through the end extensions of the second mentioned clip and the step for securing the second mentioned clip to the step, thereby to secure the first mentioned clip to the step and the step to the stile.

3. In a flexible ladder, chain side stiles and rigid steps rectangular in cross sectional form and means for securing the stiles to the end of the steps, each of said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through one of the links of the stile, end extensions on said clip for engagement with the opposite side faces of the step, a wear plate interposed between the stile link and the end of the step, a second clip comprising a main body portion having a slot therein for reception of a portion of a link of the stile, end extensions upon the second clip for engagement with the top and bottom faces of the step, and means for securing said second clip to the step thereby to secure the said first mentioned clip, the wear plate and the stile link to the end of the step.

4. In a flexible ladder, chain side stiles and rigid steps rectangular in cross sectional form and means for securing the stiles to the ends of the steps, each of said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through one of the links of the stile, end extensions on said clip for engagement with the opposite side faces of the step, a wear plate interposed between the chain linkand the end of the step, a second clip comprising a main body portion having a slot therein for reception of a portion of a link of the stile, end extensions upon the second clip for engagement with the top and bottom faces of the step,

and means for securing said second clip to the step thereby to secure the said first mentioned clip, the wear plate and the stile link to the end of the step, said means comprising a rivet passing through the end extensions of the second mentioned clip and through the step. 1 5. In a flexible ladder, chain side stiles an rigid steps square in cross sectional form and means for securing the steps to the side stiles, each of'said means including a channel in the end of the step extending vertically thereof with the step in it's normal operative position, a wear assaoeo plate having a stile link receiving channel therein, said channel being receivable in the channel of the step to position the wear plate relative to the end of the step, and means for securing one of the links of a side stile in the link receiving channel of the wear plate, said means including a clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to be attached and embracing the opposite side faces of the step, and means secured to the step and embracing said clip for securing the clip, the link of the side stile and the wear plate to the end of the step.

6. In a flexible ladder, chain side stiles and rigid steps, and means for securing the steps to the side stiles, each of said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through and beyond opposite sides of the link of the stile to which the step is to be attached, means for preventing movement of the stile link engaging clip in a lateral direction when the step is in its normal operative position, a second clip embracing the stile link engaging clip and the end of the step for loosely attaching the stile link engaging clip to the end of the step and for preventing vertical movement thereof relative to the step when the step is in its normal operative position,

venting movement of the stile link engaging clip in a lateral direction when the step is in its normal operative position, a second clip embracing the stile link engaging clip and the end of the step for loosely attaching the stile link engaging clip to the end of the step and for preventing vertical movement thereof relative to the step when the step is in its normal operative position, and means for securing the second mentioned clip to the step and the stile link engaging clip, the stile link, the second mentioned clip and its securing means being of such relative construction and arrangement as to permit of limited pivotal movement of the step relative to the stile link.

8. In a chain ladder, chain side stiles, and rigid steps of square cross sectional form, a groove in each end of the step extending from the top face to the bottom face thereof, a wear plate having a chain link receiving channel therein which is receivable in the groove in the end of the step to position the wear plate relative to the end of the step, and means for securing the step to one of the links of a side stile, said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to be secured, said clip retaining one leg of the stile link in the stile link receiving channel of the wear plate, means embracing the end of the step and the stile link engaging clip for maintaining it in engagement with the stile link, and means for securing the last mentioned means to the top and bottom faces of the step.

9. In a chain ladder, chain side stiles, and rigid steps of square cross sectional form, a groove in each end of the step extending from the top face to the bottom face thereof, a wear plate having a chain link receiving channel therein which is receivable in the groove in the end of the step to position the wear plate relative to the end of the step, and means for securing the step to one of the links of a side stile, said means including a stiie link engaging clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to be secured, said clip retaining one leg of the stile link in the stile link receiving channel of the wear plate, a second clip embracing the end of the step and the stile link engaging clip for maintaining it in engagement with the stile link, said second mentioned clip being slotted to receive the stile link, and means for securing the second mentioned clip to the step.

10. In a chain ladder, chain side stiles and rigid steps of square cross sectional form, a groove in each end of the step extending from the top face to the bottom face thereof, a wear plate having a chain link receiving channel therein which is receivable in the groove in the end of the step to position the wear plate relative to the end of the step, and means for securing the step to one of the links of a side stile, said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to be secured, said clip retaining one leg of the stile link in the stile link receiving channel of the wear plate, a second clip conforming in shape to the shape of the end of the step for maintaining the stile link engaging clip in engagement with the stile link thereby to retain the stile link in the channel of the wear plate and the channel of the wear plate in the groove in the end of the step when the second mentioned clip is secured to the step, and means for securing the second mentioned clip to the step.

11. In a chain ladder, chain side stiles, and rigid steps of square cross sectional form, a groove in each end of the step extending from the top face to the bottom face thereof, a wear plate having a chain link receiving channel therein which is receivable in the groove in the end of the step to position the wear plate relative to the end of the step, and means for securing the step to one of the links of a side stile, said means including a stile link engaging clip passing through the link of the stile to which the step is to be secured, said clip retaining one leg of the stile link in the stile link receiving channel of the wear plate, a second clip conforming in shape to the shape of the end of the step for maintaining the stile link engaging clip in engagement with the stile link thereby to retain the stile link in the channel of the wear plate and the channel of the wear plate in the groove in the end of the step when the second mentioned clip is secured-to the step, and means for securing the second mentioned clip to the step, said securing means including extensions projecting from the second mentioned clip into engagement with the top and bottom faces of the step and fastening means passing through said extensions and through the step;

HAROLD P. HOPP. EDWARD KUNZELMAN. 

